Classic Toy Trains

CLASSIC TOY TRAINS BRINGS YOU O AND S GAUGE FOR THE OPERATOR AND COLLECTOR. SEE THE NEWEST TRAINS FROM LIONEL, MTH, ATLAS O AND OTHERS; LEARN ABOUT TRACK PLANNING, WIRING AND LAYOUT CONSTRUCTION; IDENTIFY AND REPAIR OLD LIONEL AND AMERICAN FLYER TRAINS; AND VISIT THE MOST INSPIRING TOY TRAIN LAYOUTS EVER BUILT.

Trains are fun • A new generation is spreading the word about the hobby

Classic Toy Trains

Unearthing a Lionel treasure

What’s a layout “for”? • And what does it take to keep a youngster interested?

YOUR PICTURES

RAILROAD HOBBY SHOW RECAP • The 2022 Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show was held in late January in Springfield, Mass. Despite a major winter storm, the show was open both days, allowing toy train enthusiasts to see the latest offerings from their favorite manufacturers. Below are some of the highlights from the show floor.

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Sources for Lionel postwar parts • Specialized hobby dealers are the best

READER TIPS!

Keeping in contact • A fix for the Polar Express passenger cars

HERE’S HOW TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM

Unmasking the pandemic • The past two years for toy trains

Marx’s military train set • An unnumbered prewar marvel

BACKROOM TREASURES from Gilbert • American Flyer rolling stock assortments

DETAIL EXPERT • Fritz Della Valle got everything moving correctly

GOING HIS OWN WAY IN O GAUGE • Chris Raines expresses himself on a new layout

BEHIND THE SCENES: RBP TRAINS

THE MARX EL CAPITAN SET DEFINED ELEGANCE • 70 years and counting for this classic O gauge train

LIONEL’S NO. 397 COAL LOADER • Plenty of action, and only one track required!

LIONEL’S NO. 1615 CANNONBALL EXPRESS SET • A study of transition from 1986

OUT OF MANY COMES ONE SUPERB LAYOUT • The ‘Eclectic Empire’ boasts trains of every gauge and vintage

New life for a Flyer no. 290 • How to make this sturdy, inexpensive Pacific almost like new

Make room for baby • Lionel’s new traditional-sized K4 Pacific is solid runner

The home of good health • Menards releases Sacred Heart Hospital

Modifications for better trucks • Plus an easy, inexpensive way to keep your track together